Cruz brings the heat at Abilene barbecue restaurant rally

Tyler Hasenjaeger, a student at Abilene Christian University and chairman of the College Republicans, fist-pumps as U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz autographs his Texas flag Thursday. Cruz held a campaign meet-and-greet at the Catclaw Drive location of Betty Rose's Little Brisket.(Photo: Ronald W. Erdrich/Reporter-News, )Buy Photo

Ted Cruz may not be there to eat, but he certainly is making the rounds of well-known West Texas eateries.

The junior senator from Texas Thursday finally made a public appearance in Abilene, two weeks after a private tour of Dyess Air Force Base. His stop was the south-side location of Betty Rose's Little Brisket.

After speaking with the media after his air base tour, Cruz met supporters at Underwood's, the famed barbecue restaurant in Brownwood.

Before coming to Abilene on Thursday, he was at Mrs. Kathy's Apple of My Pie in Snyder, and he was due at Miss Hattie's Restaurant in San Angelo after his 90-minute stop here.

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz speaks to a packed dining room at Betty Rose's Little Brisket on Thursday. This was Cruz's first public appearance in Abilene since his opponent Beto O'Rourke announced his candidacy last fall.(Photo: Ronald W. Erdrich/Reporter-News, )

Cruz was running late, prompting Taylor County Republican Party chairman Winston Ohlhausen to pitch the sale of Cruz yard signs — he had 60 in his pickup bed, $10 each — and then asking if anyone knew good songs to sing. Folks broke out in "God Bless America" and "America the Beautiful."

Later, when Cruz arrived, he noted the spontaneous singing and feigned shock that his audience wasn't "taking a knee for the national anthem."

"Well, good, we're in Texas," he said.

Barbecue joints make for good gathering places in Texas, though Betty Rose's was packed like ranch beans in a pot. Some tried to listen from outside, standing at an open door. That made it a little warm inside ... besides Cruz turning up the heat on Democrats and, in particular, his Senate opponent Beto O'Rourke.

Greeting a cheering crowd as "freedom-loving, God-fearing, Second Amendment Texans," Cruz blasted his opponent on his lack of support for Israel, his support for impeaching President Trump and voting against sweeping tax cuts that, Cruz said, have greatly benefited Texans.

Cruz came packing heat with new and familiar one-liners. To that, he told the crowd the Left is "angry," so Republicans should not be uptight.

"Respond with a smile. Have fun," he said, recounting his one-on-one basketball win over TV's Jimmy Kimmel. After being dissed as a Houston Rockets fan, Cruz challenged the late-night talk show host to a game. The event raised $80,000 for two Texas charities, he said.

Buy Photo

Audience members listen to U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz on Thursday in Abilene.(Photo: Ronald W. Erdrich/Reporter-News, )

Cruz said he was checking Twitter once and came across "Ted Cruz Ate My Son." He was tempted to reply, "He was delicious."

The senator said he wished the president wouldn't say some of the things he does, prompting one attendee to shout, "Keep him honest, Ted, keep him honest!"

But after his presidential opponent defeated Hillary Clinton in 2016, Cruz cast his support fully for Trump and his goals that included the cutting of taxes and regulations, and going after Obamacare, a job that only is partially finished, he said.

As for Friday's scheduled debate with O'Rourke, an event that was doubtful when he spoke Thursday, Cruz said he was generous as an incumbent to debate and looked forward to talking about taxes, federal regulations, jobs and the economy — the four scheduled subjects.

"I sure hope so," he said of working out differences between the two campaigns but blaming O'Rourke for pulling out. That drew a boo and one chicken squawk.

"I think we'll have some debates," he said.

Cruz said he even was good with the Dallas Morning News and NBC representatives as moderators, which drew laughs.

"We've got a fight on our hands," the senator said, adding there likely will be a record showing of Democrats. But in Texas, he said, there still are "a lot more conservatives than liberals."

He noted the media's fascination with O'Rourke, sometimes called "Kennedyesque."

Buy Photo

Listeners outside and within the room are silhouetted against the Ted Cruz campaign van, known as "The Cruzer," as they listen to Cruz speak at Betty Rose's Little Brisket Thursday. More than 200 crowded the dining room to hear his remarks and ask questions.(Photo: Ronald W. Erdrich/Reporter-News, )

"Usually with his hair blowing in the wind," he said, striking a pose. "Apparently we're electing a clump of hair."

The election comes down to "turnout, turnout, turnout. The danger is too many of us will stay home and be complacent," he said.

Questions from the public included an almost-angry challenge to do something about veterans care, Social Security, free speech vs. violence, health care regulations and Planned Parenthood.

Cruz seemed right at home at the restaurant, perhaps remembering its cooks had prepared a Texas-style dinner when Cruz in December 2015 held a rally during his presidential campaign at the Wilks Community Center in Cisco.

Kyle Johnson, Betty Rose's president and in the kitchen Thursday, said it was accurate to call his restaurant Cruz supporters.

And so is Carl Graham, retired Air Force staff sergeant, who had a front-row seat. He formerly lived in Colorado City but now calls Abilene home.

"I grew up a Democrat but after losing the Democrats we had, I decided to turn Republican," he said. He particularly supports Cruz's strong stand on border security.

O'Rourke also was in the Big Country on Thursday, meeting his fans in Sweetwater.

He was close enough, too, to get to Dallas for a debate Friday.

There was no debating the preferences of the crowd at Cruz's event here, cheering his support of Supreme Court justice nominee Brett Kavanaugh, whose wife is from Abilene.

No, the biggest debate at Betty Rose's likely was between ordering a sliced or chopped sandwich.

Listeners outside and within the room are silhouetted against the U.S. Senator Ted Cruz campaign van, known as "The Cruzer", as they listen to Cruz speak at the Betty Rose's Little Brisket Catclaw Dr. location Thursday August 30, 2018. Over 200 crowded the dining room to hear his remarks and ask questions. Ronald W. Erdrich/Reporter-News,

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz speaks to a packed dining room at Betty Rose's Little Brisket on Catclaw Drive on Thursday Aug. 30, 2018. It was Cruz's first public appearance in Abilene since rival Beto O'Rourke announced his candidacy last fall. Ronald W. Erdrich/Reporter-News,

Audience members listen at the Catclaw Dr. location of Betty Rose's Little Brisket to U.S. Senator Ted Cruz Thursday August 30, 2018. This was Cruz' first campaign event in Abilene for the Nov. 6 election. Ronald W. Erdrich/Reporter-News,

Audience members laugh as U.S. Senator Ted Cruz makes joke about the Democratic Party during an Abilene campaign stop Thursday August 30, 2018. The event at the Betty Rose's Little Brisket Catclaw Dr. location was the senator's first public campaign event in Abilene for the 2018 election. Ronald W. Erdrich/Reporter-News,

A crowd member pointedly asks U.S. Senator Ted Cruz about Social Security issues during a campaign event at the Betty Rose's Little Brisket Catclaw Dr. location Thursday August 30, 2108. The crowd filled the indoor dining room, with many having to stand near the exits or listen in from adjoining rooms. Ronald W. Erdrich/Reporter-News,

U.S. Senator Ted Cruz and others are blurred in this timed exposure as audience members press in for a photograph with Cruz. The senator held his first Abilene campaign event for the November election at Betty Rose's Little Brisket on Catclaw Dr. Thursday August 30, 2018. Ronald W. Erdrich/Reporter-News,

Paul Hiepler, a student at Abilene Christian University and a shooting guard on the Wildcats' basketball team, asks U.S. Senator Ted Cruz to sign his shoes for him Thursday August 30, 2018. Cruz held his first Abilene campaign event for the November election at Betty Rose's Little Brisket on Catclaw Dr. Ronald W. Erdrich/Reporter-News,

Paul Hiepler holds the shoes autographed for him by U.S. Senator Ted Cruz Thursday August 30, 2018. A student at Abilene Christian University and a shooting guard on the Wildcats' basketball team, Hiepler said he will wear them during the upcoming season. Cruz held his first Abilene campaign event for the November election at Betty Rose's Little Brisket on Catclaw Dr. Ronald W. Erdrich/Reporter-News,

Tyler Hasenjaeger, a student at Abilene Christian University and chairman of the College Republicans, fist-pumps as U.S. Senator Ted Cruz autographs his Texas flag Thursday August 30, 2018. Cruz held a campaign meet-and-greet at the Catclaw Dr. location of Betty Roses' Little Brisket. Ronald W. Erdrich/Reporter-News,